Collars with 4-digits have been manufactured in several colors, and identical codes are repeated on each collar. The codes that are used are coordinated and assigned by the Bird Banding Laboratory and are unique combinations of codes and color. Codes are in several patterns, but usually one of the following types: LNNN or NNNL (L=Letter, N=Number); or combinations of 2 letters and 2 numbers (LLNN, NNLL, LNLN, LNNL, NLNL, NLLN).

Orange and Blue collars are widely used in the Mississippi Flyway. These collars were part of an extensive effort to track the populations and movements of Canada Geese. Orange collars were used in the Canadian portion of the Mississippi Flyway, and Blue collars were used in the US portion of the Mississippi Flyway.

Thank you for reporting the neck collared Canada Goose. Approximately 7000-8000 Canada Geese are banded annually in northern Ontario and James Bay to enable wildlife agencies to track movements, estimate survival, monitor harvest and plan for sustainable populations of geese. The banding is supported by the states and provinces of the Mississippi and Atlantic Flyway Councils and the federal governments of the US and Canada. Reports such as yours are important to the success of the program.

The details of the bird that you reported (M3F7) are as follows:

This bird was banded as an adult male on July 20, 1999, fifteen miles east of Winisk, Hudson Bay, Ontario in the degree block 5510 8450. The federal band number is 0918-55029.